Lifestyle Photography Locations | Kat Hannon Photography

What is lifestyle photography?

Lifestyle photography pretty much does what it says on the tin.

It uses a series of images that tell a story to convey a snapshot of a certain lifestyle that the viewer aspires too.

It can often be used for a variety of brands from clothing to health to jewellery and in many other industries.

The point of lifestyle photography is to capture a series of moments that people can imagine themselves living in.

Much of my work has been rooted in lifestyle photography, and one of the main things I’ve learnt is the importance of location.

The process of location hunting

Finding the right location is important for every photoshoot, but with lifestyle, it’s essential.

The location sets the scene for the styling of the models and the aesthetic of the project, as well as adding an extra layer to the shoot.

The process of location hunting varies from photographer to photographer.

From my experience, the best way to scout for locations is to take note of what you see when you’re out and about.

So, if I’m on a day trip with my daughters or out with friends, I always have my photographer radar up.

Whatever I’m doing and wherever I am, I’m always keeping an eye out to see what could work for a concept shoot I have in mind. I may capture this by taking a shot on my phone or screen grabbing where we are on a map - so I can pin point when back in the office just exactly what I was looking at. Another super useful tip is scrolling air b&b and hotels. Often there are locations who are also looking to collaborate and happy for you to use their space for lifestyle shoots.

My main way of generating ideas for shoots is getting inspiration from what I see around me.

However, sometimes you just can’t find the right location using this method, so it’s also a good idea to try making a vision board.

This board could be a physical scrapbook where you cut and paste images of key aesthetic features you want for the location, or you could use a digital platform like Pinterest to refine your ideas.

Once you figure out exactly what you want from a location, you can start researching the different places that offer everything you need.

So, which locations have worked well for my previous photoshoots?

Location 1: Formby Beach

In my experience, one of the best locations for lifestyle shoots is Formby Beach in Merseyside.

This worked well for a few reasons…

Firstly, at this beach, there’s a variety of open spaces, allowing you to take photos with differing backdrops and scenes.

There’s also a lot of natural daylight because it reflects off the sand and water, providing the perfect lighting to capture the subject of an image.

Texture also plays a key role in photoshoots. Generally, you want there to be a range of textures but without there being so much that you can’t focus on the subject of the image. At Formby Beach, there was the perfect amount of textures from the sand, the sea and the grass on the sand dunes.

This just seems to add an extra element to the shoot, allowing the viewer the appreciate the beauty of the surroundings as well as the model and inducing them to be wistful for this type of lifestyle.

Lastly, this beach is a big enough space to be away from people so that you can get a clear, uninterrupted shot of the model and the beach without the distraction of passers-by.

Overall, this beach is the perfect location for a lifestyle shoot as it exudes those desirable elements of luxury and leisure; it’s also a place people love to go because it’s associated with relaxation and serenity.

Location 2: Marbury Country Park

Last year, we did a test shoot based on a location scout id take with a video maker friend of mine. We worked with a model from shooting in publications and at Marbury Country Park.

What initially drew me in was the public pool surrounded by forest. It was a deep blue colour, framed by straight lines of white concrete.

The manmade architecture of the pool contrasted beautifully with the natural surroundings and I just knew it was a place that needed to be incorporated into one of my projects.

The reason this worked so well for lifestyle imagery was, once again, because of the natural light that bounced off the water; this light captured the model in a way that studio lighting simply can’t.

It was also giving off that luxury feel, as though it was some private VIP club that all the celebrities and public figures attend to get away from the chaos of everyday life.

Whenever scouting for locations, it’s important to keep in mind who the audience is. In this case, it’s for those who aspire to a luxury lifestyle and who strive to indulge themselves in quality products and experiences

Location 3: William Morris Gallery

*Shoot for William Morris London, by Kat Hannon*

In my experience, stately homes, galleries and National Trust estates are always a good choice for lifestyle photography. The reason being that they bring so many different elements to a photoshoot. From architecture, to outstanding natural beauty to the rich history of these locations- it makes for an idyllic lifestyle shoot.

When you are trying to convey the art of a luxury, you want the audience you are targeting to feel they are aspiring to the finer things in life including quality clothes, delicious food, unique jewellery, one-of-a-kind experiences and more.

One of my projects for William Morris London was to photograph a new range of high end glasses. We chose to shoot at the William Morris Gallery in London because it was collaboration with the gallery and client, clearly on-brand and it has the right setting for the shoot.

Having access to the inside and outside of the building gave us the opportunity to create a wide range of images showcasing the new products.

The interior architecture displayed a classic luxury feel that was perfectly suited to the William Morris London brand, whilst the surrounding area offered beautiful shrubbery, rose gardens and romantic balconies.

The results of this project delighted the client, not only because of the photography, styling and make-up, but because of the diversity of shots the location offered.

All in all, location matters; it’s a vital component of every shoot and finding the right location for each client is an essential part of the creative process.

If you’re struggling to find the right location for a photoshoot or a creative project, it’s always helpful to use vision boards or do a drive by of a few different areas to help you identify places that meet your client brief.

If you’re in the process of organising a lifestyle or commercial photoshoot for your business or brand, please feel free to get in touch.

Best Locations for Lifestyle Photography

What is lifestyle photography?